Cooling apparatus



H. E. LEAVITT & A. 0. LANE.

COOLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR 27. I9I5.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET l- H. E. LEAVITT & A. D. LANE.

COOLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1915 Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

H. E. LEAVITT & A. 0. LANE.

COOLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR-2L 1915- Patented Aug. 15; 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

11 flu I: 12 2g I, 14 19 L Y 14 If 15/ g 10 29 1% Gil]: $0 24 l F- 5 a l lg. (I A L Hi H. E. LEAVITT & A. D. LANE.

COOLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27, 1915.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

WIT/V588 A TTOR/VE) .3.

HENRY E. LEAVITT AND ALBERT D. LANE, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

COOLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. is, rare.

Application filed April 27, 1915. Serial No. 24,240.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY E. LEAVITT and ALBERT D. LANE, citizens of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cooling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to refrigerating or cooling systems, and more particularly to that type of system wherein evaporation and absorption are employed.

The invention has for its principal objects to provide a system wherein acirculation of air is maintained and the same is passed through a series of ducts and also through several cooling stages and is thence caused to pass in proximity to'the air contained within a chamber to withdraw the heat therefrom by absorption; to provide a system wherein there is employed a fluid medium for lowering the temperature of the cooling air and which acts on the cooling air in its several stages of'cooling; to provide a system wherein there is maintained a positive circulation of the cooling fluid and air, so that the air and water after having absorbed the heat units from the air in the chamber will be rapidly removed and replaced and to provide a system'which is simple in construction, is capable of being efliciently operated at little cost, and is adapted for use generally where cooling systems are required.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construc-, tion within the scope of theclaims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figures 1 and 1 form a view in side elevation of a car of the refrigerator type with an embodiment of our invention therein. Figs. 2 and 2 form a view in transverse longitudinal section, taken near the top of the car, disclosing the general arrangement of the circulating ducts and headers. Fig. 3

is a vertical sectional view taken on lines- 33 ofFigs. 1 and 2*. Fig. {l is a diagrammatic view in perspective of the air circulating system, disclosing by arrows the course of the air passing through theducts and headers. Fig. 5 is a sectional .view taken on line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 2, viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one of the ducts positioned within the inclosure, disclosing the fabric material therein and the feed pipe for supplying a cooling fluid to the fabric.

Fig. 7 is'a. view in section of one of the fluid supply pipes which cooperates with the circulating air cooling ducts. Fig. 8 isa cross sectional view of a drier box for con-,

taining a suitable drying material and through which the cooling air is caused to pass when the same is veryhumid.-

Referring more particularly to-the drawings, wherein our invention is illustrated in next to the chamber is insulated, which causes the air from the compartmentsto enter the chamber about midway of the height thereof and thereby maintain a circulation. The ice in the chambers rests on the perforated flooring 4 and the drip or water from the melting thereof-passes through pipes 5 connecting with an insulated tank 6 carried beneath the car, and said tank is formed with an overflow 7 connecting with a larger insulated tank 8 also carried beneath the car and provided with an overflow 9. It will be apparent that the tank 6 receives the cold drip water directly from the ice compartments, and the warmer water in the tank 6 rises and overflows into the tank 8.

Mounted preferably on the roof 10 of the car and extending longitudinally of the opposite' side edges thereof are the tubular housings or casings 11 and 12. The housing 11 is open at its opposite ends, as at 13, and extending longitudinally within the same in spaced relation to each other are the zigzag ducts14 and 15, each having at the opposite portion of its oppositeend'an air inlet opening 16 controlled by a gate 17.

Extending longitudinally within the housing .or casing 12, in spaced relation to each other, are the zig-zag ducts l8 and'19, one end of each of which connects through a ductextending into the interior of the car,

With the respective headers 20. and .21 .extending preferably transversely of the interior of. the car adjacent the top thereof, and the opposite. ends of said ducts 18 and 19 connect through ducts 22 and 23v extending from the wall ofthe casing or housing 12,

with the closed ends of said ducts 14 and 15.

Suitable circulating ducts 24 and 25 con nect the respective end headers and 21 with a center header 26 from one end of positioned between the double walls of the car and opening at its lower end beneath the.

floor thereof. The interiors of the casings or housings 11 and 12 connect midway of their length through channels27' with the center header 26, as in Fig. 4.

Communicating with the ducts 14 and 15 at a point. immediately below their respective inlets 16 are the opposite ends of a suitable duct 28 having aperforated floor 29 therein, and said duct is provided centrally be of greater capacity and speed than the capacity of the connected ducts, this arrangement causing air'to circulate through all ducts but at different speed, or the openings connecting the ducts may be progressively increased in proportion to the progressive increase of resistance of the flow of air therethrough, thisarrangement insuring a uniform circulation through all the connected ducts. I p g A circulating apparatus, preferably asuction fan 31, is positioned in the lower end of the duct 27 and the same is mounted on a shaft 32 carried beneath the car or bracket 33, and driven by a connection 34 with the car axle 35.- Suitable water pumps 36 and 37 are also mounted on the shaft 32 and the pump 36 connects through a pipe 38 with the pipe 5 near its juncture with the tank 6. From the pump 36 extends the supply pipe 39 which connects through branches 39' With the distributing pipes 40- slotted in their upper surface, as at 41, and formed in the upper portion of the ducts 25. Suitable which extends the outlet duct 27, preferably I absorbent material, preferably asbestos fabric 42, connects with the slotted outlet 41 of the pipes 40 and extends around the interior of the ducts 25, providing means whereby the water from the pipes 40 will pass circumferentially of the ducts 25 and absorb the heat rising in the interior of the car and in contact therewith. The excess water passes longitudinallyof the ducts 25 into the headers 20, 21 or 26 and is returned therefrom through the pipes 43 to the tank 6.

An overflow 39 is provided in one of the branches 39 and the same drains into the center header'26. A pressure actuated valve 39 is positioned in the overflow 39 and enables a pressure to be maintained for forcing the fluid from the pipes 40.

Extending longitudinally of the ducts 14, 15, 1.8 and 19, are the pipes '44 provided with a longitudinal outlet groove in the lower portion and in said groove is mounted a suitable wicking 44 which distributes the fluid over the upper surface of the ducts so that the same will be enveloped thereby and the air passing therethrough and thence around will have the heat absorbed therefrom by the water. The water enveloping the ducts 14, 15, 18 and 19 drains into the housings or casings 11 and 12 and passes .therefrom through pipes 45 which connect with the tank 8. The cooling fluid is supplied under pressure from the tank 8 to the pipes 44 by pipes 46 which connect with the pump 37. In the upper portion of one of the-pipes 46 is an overflow 47 communicating with oneof the connections 45 and controlled by a pressure actuated valve 48, and this construction enables the cooling fluid to be forced into the pipes 44 under pressure.

The pumps 36 and 37 are of such size and capacity that when operating under normal speed they supply the cooling fluid to the outlets n the system thereof under sufficient pressure to insure the necessary distribution through the outlets to maintain the absorbent material associated therewith saturated. Any excess pressure in the pipes leading from the pumps 36 and 37 caused by the increased speed of the pumps, due to an excessive speed of the car, is relieved by the pressure actuated valves 39 and 48 which are adjusted to operate at a pressure slightly above that caused by a normal speed of the pumps and the water released by the opening thereof passes through the respective overflow pipes 39 and 47 and is returned to the respective tanks 6 and 8.-

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that when the suction device 31 is operated, air will be drawn into the opposite ends of the housing-or casing 11, and also through the opposite ends of the zig-zag ducts I4 and 15. The air entering the opposite ends of the casing 11 will pass around the zig-zag ducts 14 and 15 for approximately one-half of 'their length and will be cooled by the housing 12 is divided, one-half passing'into the open end of and through the respective ducts 18 and 19 where the temperature thereof is again reduced by the action of the cooling fluid enveloping-the ducts, and the other'half passing around the ducts 18 and 19 is cooled by the fluid enveloping the ducts 18 and 19, and passes longitudinally of the housing -12 in opposite directions toward the the chambers 2, as is d center thereof thence through'the duct 27' into the header-26 and outwardly through the outlet 27. The air after having traveled the length of the ducts 18 and 19 passes therefrom into the respective headers20 and 21, thence through the ducts 24 and 25 wheret'hejtemperature thereof is again reduced and into the center header 26 from where it is caused to intermingle with the original quantity of air drawn into the opposite ends of the housing 11 and ducts 14 and 15.

The water from the tank 8 which, is of the higher-temperature of that contained in the two tanks, i's used in connection with the casings 11 and'12 and theducts 14, 15, 18 and 19, and. reduces the temperature of the air during the first two stages of cooling.

The water of lower temperature or that contained in the tank 6, and which has just melted from the ice, is employed in the third and last stage of cooling, and passes around the interior of the ducts 24 and 25, thereby cooling the air in theca-r which contacts with the surface of the headers 20, 21 and 26-a'n'd the ducts 24 and 25.

It will be apparent that our apparatus is designed-to divide the quantity of air to be acted on duringeach successive cooling step and duringthe final cooling step when the same passes through the ducts 24 and 25, the water from the tank 6 will be in contact therewith thereby reducing the air to a low temperature so that the majority of the heat units in the air of the chamber circulating around the ducts 24 and 25 will be removed thereby. The air contained within the chamher. is maintained in constant circulation within the chamber andis notremoved or replaced by. the outside atmosphere and thus maintained cool at the expenseof the'ice in one in devices of this character now in use.

Under certain. conditions the ice in the chambers 2 may be dispensed with and the tanks 6 and 8 filled with water which is maintained in circulation through the re,--

spective systems of piping.

' Should it be desired toventilate the chambers, the air for-this purpose may be sup: plied from any suitable source.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is '1. A cooling; apparatus j comprising a chamber, a system of connected ducts pro-' vided .with inlet and outlet openings without said chamber and said ducts contacting with the air in said chamber and through which cooling. air is adapted to circulate, '3

means for circulating 5 air through said ducts, and 'means for supplying a cooling fluid to said ducts while the air is circulating therethroughij p 4 2. A cooling apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, asystemof connected ducts provided. With'inlet and outlet open-- ings Without said chamber and through which cooling air is adapted to circulate to- Ward the outlet, means for circulating" air through said ducts, a portion of said duct's adjacent to said outlet extending within said chamber, andmeans for supplying a cooling fluid tothe interior of certain of said ducts.

cooling apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, a system of connected ductscprovided with inlet and outletopening's" without said chamber and through which cooling air is adapted to circulate toward the outlet, means for circulating air through said ducts, a portion of said ducts adjacent to said outlet extending Within said chamber, and means for supplying a cooling fluid to the exterior of certain of. said ducts and to the interior of certain other of said ducts.

4. A cooling apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, a systemof connected ducts associated therewith and provided with air inlet, and outlet openings-without the chamber, means for circulating air through said ducts, said ducts being arranged to'separate-the air entering the inlet openings into a plurality of streams while passing therethrough. and cause the same to pass through a single outlet opening, and;

means for-supplying coolingfluid-to said ducts to reduce the temperature of the a1r as it passes therethrough.

I5. A- cooling apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, a system of connected air circulatihg ducts associated therewlth and provided with air inlet and outlet openings without the chamber and including a housing open at its opposite ends, and a plurality of ducts in said housing open at theiropposite ends'and connected at their opposite closed ends with ducts extending Within the chamber, means for circulating 13o air through said ducts toward said outlet, and means for supplying a cooling fluid to the surface of said ducts in said housing.

6. A cooling apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, a system of connected air circulating ducts associated therewith and provided with air inlet and outlet openings without the chamber, means for circulating air through said ducts toward said outlet, a plurality of tanks for containing cooling water of different temperatures, and means for supplying the cooling-water from said tanks to different portions of said system of ducts.

74A cooling 1 apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, an ice receiving compartment communicating with said chamber, a tank for receiving the drip from said .ice receiving compartment, a system of con- 'nected air circulating ducts associated with said chamber and provided with air inlet a and outlet openings without the chamber,

means for circulating air through said ducts, and means for supplying cooling waducts, and means for returning the cooling.

water to said tank. 7

9. A cooling apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, a. system of connected air circulating ducts associated therewith and provided/with air inlet and outlet openings, and including a housing exterior of the chamber and open at its opposite ends,

and a plurality of ducts in'said housing each .7

provided at one end with a valve controlled opening and at their opposite ends communicating with ducts extending into the chamber, means for circulating air through said ducts toward said outlet opening, a duct provided with a valve controlled open-' ing and connecting at its opposite ends with the valve controlled ends of said first mentioned ducts and a drying medium in said last mentioned duct and in contact with which the air entering the valve controlled opening thereof must contact before entering the first mentioned ducts.

10. A cooling apparatus comprising a car formed with an interior chamber and ice. receiving compartments at either end thereof, a system of connected air circulating ducts extending within the chamber and provided with air inlet and outlet openings other of said casings, a pair of headers in exteriorly of the chamber, a plurality of tanks forreceiving the drip from said ice receiving compartments, means for circulating air through said ducts, means for supplying cooling waterfrom one of said tanks to that portion of said ducts arranged exteriorly of said chamber, means for supply- 1ng cooling water from another of said tanks to that portion of said ducts arranged interiorlyof said'chamber, and means for 75. returnmg-the cooling water to its respective tanks Y 11. A cooling apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, a pair of casings arranged exteriorly of said chamber, one of said casings open at both ends, a pair of ducts mounted in each casing in spaced relation to the walls thereof, the ducts in each of said casings being open at one end and said open ends being arranged at opposite ends of said casings, valves controlling the open ends of the ducts in said open ended casings, the opposing end of each of said ducts communicating with the said chamber and connected with the opposing end of the ducts in said last memtioned chamber, an outlet duct connecting said headers, a communication between each of said casings and said outlet ducts, and means. for maintaining a circulation of air in said system.

12. A cooling apparatus comprising a car having supporting axles and wheels and formed with an interior chamber, a system of connected air circulating ducts extending within the chamber and provided with air inlet and outlet openings exteriorly of the chamber, a tank for containing a cooling fluid, a pump for circulating air through said ducts, a pump for supplying cooling water from said tank to said ducts, and a connection from one of said car axles for operating sald pumps.

13. A cooling apparatus comprising a car having supporting axles and wheels and formed with an interior chamber, a system of connected air circulating ducts extending .within the chamber and provided with air inlet and outlet openings exteriorly of the chamber, a tank for containing a cooling fluid, a pump for circulating air through said ducts, a. pump for supplying cooling water from said tank to said ducts, a connection from one of said car axles for opo crating said pumps, and means for returning'the cooling water to said tank.

14. A cooling apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, a pair of casings arranged exteriorly of said chamber, one of 5 said casings open at botl' ends, a. pair of ducts mounted in each casing in spaced relation to the walls thereof, the ducts in each of said casings being open at one end and said open ends being arranged at opposite ends of said casings, valves controlling the open ends of the ducts in said open ended casings, the opposing end of each of said ducts communicating with the other .of said casings, a pair of headers in said fluid to said apparatus for cooling the air as it passes therethrough. p 15. A cooling apparatus comprising a chamber, a duct provided with inlet and outlet openings without said chamber and said duct contacting with the air in said chamber and through which cooling air is adapted to circulate, means for circulating air through said duct, and means for supplying a cooling fluid to said ducts.

16. A cooling apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, a system of connected ducts provided with inlet and outlet openings without said chamber and through which cooling air is adapted to circulate toward the outlet, means for circulating air through said ducts, a portion of said ducts ad acent to said outlet extending within said chamber, and means for supplying a cooling fluid to certain-of said ducts.

17. A cooling apparatus comprising a car having supporting axles and wheels and cooling fluid to said ducts,

formed with an interior chamber, a. system I of connected air circulating ducts extending within the chamber and provided with air inlet and outlet openings exteriorly of said chamber, means for supplying 'a means for causing a circulation of air through said ducts, and driving connections associated with one ofsaid supporting members for operating said last mentioned means.

18. A cooling apparatus comprising a chamber, a. duct provided with inlet and outlet openings without said chamber and said duct contacting with the air in said chamber and through which cooling air is circulated, and means for reducing the temperature of said duct;

19. A Cooling apparatus. comprising a chamber, a system of connected ducts provided with inlet and outlet openings without the chamber, certain of said ducts extending within said chamber, means for circulating air through said ducts, and means for reducing the temperature within the ducts in said chamber to a lower degree than the temperature in the ducts exteriorly of said chamber.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY E. LEAVITT. ALBERT D. LANE. Witnesses:

. HARRY H. ToT'rEN,

D. B. RICHARDS. 

